· GFRA and India

· The recently published Global Forest Resources Assessment

(GFRA) 2020 is a product of the United Nations Food and
Agriculture Organization (FAO).

· This extensive assessment, conducted every five years since 1990,

provides a detailed evaluation of the status, conditions, and
management of forests across all member countries.

· As per the FRA 2020 findings, the top 10 nations documenting the
highest average annual net gains in forest area from 2010 to 2020
include:

China,Australia,India,Chile,Vietnam

INDIA SPECIFIC FINDINGS

· Throughout the assessed decade, India documented an annual
forest gain of 0.38 percent, equating to an average yearly increase
of 266,000 hectares.

· The noteworthy rise in community-managed forest areas across

Asia, acknowledged by FRA 2020, is attributed to India’s Joint
Forest Management program.

· The forest area under the management of local, tribal, and

indigenous communities in India witnessed substantial growth,
evolving from zero in 1990 to approximately 25 million hectares by
2015.

· Despite these positive trends, the assessment expresses

 disappointment with the rate of increase in naturally regenerating
forests during the period of 2010-20, standing at just 0.38 percent.

· India holds the distinction of reporting the highest employment in

the forestry sector globally. Out of the 12.5 million people
employed in the forestry sector worldwide,

· India contributed a substantial 6.23 million, accounting for nearly

50 percent of the global employment in this sector.

https://catalogue.unccd.int/
1481_Global_forest_resources_assessment_FAO_2020_CA8753EN.pdf